The decision to end the sorting of mail at the site follows a consultation with employees and trade unions.

Royal Mail say the changes are needed in response to the huge growth in electronic communications and the resulting decline in overall mail volumes. The latest Royal Mail financial results indicate that nationally letter volumes fell by 6% compared to the previous year. Royal Mail now deliver 58 million items a day compared to 84 million items a day six years ago.

In Shropshire and Mid Wales, mail volumes of items posted to addresses in the region from other parts of the country have fallen by 48.6% in the last five years. Mail volumes of items posted in Shropshire and Mid Wales to addresses outside the area have fallen by 35% in the same period.

There are around 240 processing and network staff currently working at Shrewsbury Mail Centre. Royal Mail say it is too early to say what the impact of the proposal will be as it depends on the final outcome of the consultation with unions and employees.

Royal Mail’s aim is to minimise any job reductions and make changes without compulsory redundancies. It is hoped that roles will be found for everyone who is affected by the proposed changes. The consultation has involved the CWU and Unite CMA.

Following its closure Chester Mail Centre would handle all mail for the SY (Shrewsbury and Mid Wales) postcode area; Cardiff Mail Centre would handle the LD (Llandrindod Wells) postcode area and North West Midlands Mail Centre (Wolverhampton) would handle the TF (Telford) postcode area.